The current global demand for more sustainable plastic products and the need for circular solutions to manage end-of-life (EOL) plastics from all parties involved have greatly influenced the plastic industry in Thailand to adapt quickly. However, most of the stakeholders in Thailand’s plastic VN still require knowledge and capability enhancement especially in circular design concept for plastic products to be competitive at the global level. Therefore, MTEC, as the main project’s executor, in collaboration with LiU have organized an intensive design course on “Designing Plastic Products in Circular Economy” in June 2021 which attracted more than 150 participants from across the plastic value network (VN). 

Organizing this course also offers MTEC and LiU working team to build up and strengthen their network with the relevant stakeholders in the Thai plastic VN for further collaborations. Moreover, MTEC has reviewed national & international frameworks aimed towards Post Consumer Recyclates (PCRs) quality in key global markets, and evaluated relevant standards for the assessment of recycling facilities and traceability of PCRs in Thailand. MTEC is also conducting a preliminary survey for baseline (technical) capability of secondary plastic value network and the associated PCR quality as well as the different PCR processing practices and value chains. 

The project’s outputs lead to policy recommendation for an efficient circulation of plastics (packaging) and recommendation to improve quality of locally produced PCRs.